Page 162 - The Creative Training Idea Book Inspired Tips and Techniques for Engaging and Effective Learning

lucas chap 04 11/20/02 12:00 PM Page 151
Opening With a Bang 151
stamp both sides of each bag with a rubber stamp that I had made at an office supply
store. The stamp says, “PLEASE DO NOT OPEN UNTIL TOLD.” Inside each bag, I place
either a flat foam rubber animal face mask or a rubber animal nose (see Creative Presen-
tation Resources in the Resources for Trainers section of the appendices). I then staple
the bags closed and put them in the center of participant tables. When I am ready to
start the icebreaker activity I tell participants to take a bag, open it, and put on whatever
they find inside. I typically put on a mask or nose myself to reduce the inhibitions that
some might have of being the first to look silly. Participants are then told to wander
around the room and find everyone else who looks like them, form a group to introduce
themselves, and exchange whatever information that I designate. You can substitute any
prop for variations of this activity (e.g., hats or other party items).

What a Great Place to Be

To get participants into a positive frame of mind related to training attendance, I often
help them recognize that there are worse places to be. To accomplish this, I pass out
blank pieces of paper and ask each person to think of one task that is waiting for them
in their office or at home that they are dreading. I then have them write down the task,
crumple the paper up, and toss it to someone else. Participants take turns introducing
themselves and reading the task on the page that was received. Next, I show the session
objectives and ask participants to think of one way in which they believe that the ses-
sion content will benefit them and/or their organization and to write the benefit down.
Finally, I have each person read the benefit that he or she wrote and stress that instead
of being elsewhere doing something they do not want to do, they can stay in class, par-
ticipate actively, and gain new knowledge or skills that can help make their lives easier
and more interesting.

Fantasyland

For this icebreaker, use one of the creative strategies for grouping participants found in
Chapter 6. Once small groups are formed and a leader and scribe have been selected for
each group, tell participants that they have just been transported to Fantasyland. In that
mythical place, they can do anything they like. Have them brainstorm some aspect
related to the session topic and the workplace. For example, if they could change any-
thing (e.g., boss, customers, peers, job tasks, or workplace environment) what would
the perfect change look like? Once each group has developed a list, have them share
with others. Stress that they now have a blueprint for improvement that they can use in
their real workplace to effect change. Later in the program, you may want to revisit the
lists from this activity and have groups develop an action plan for making changes. This
gives a tangible result that they can go back to the workplace with and adds value to the
training. You can modify the topic that they address in this icebreaker to focus on any
issue you desire or that relates specifically to your program topic. It is a wonderful way
for determining what participants think and issues that are important to them.